MIPI test options grow with expanded M-PHY receiver tests from Tek

January 22, 2014 //
By Graham Prophet

The latest update to Tektronix’ M-PHYreceiver test offering includes support for HS Gear2 and Gear3, PWM Mode, auto calibration and margin testing.

Engineers developing next generation mobile devices based on the M-PHY physical layer can now use this solution to resolve design challenges and overcome signal integrity issues by performing automated conformance, product validation and margin tests.

Support for HS Gear2 and Gear3 and PWM Mode (G0-G7) gives designers the flexibility to perform tests at the full range of data rates for comprehensive insights into their designs. The auto calibration support for high speed gears reduces the complexity of setup, saves time, and enables users to test devices faster. Margin testing for high speed gears allows designers to validate and stress their devices to maximum potential resulting in competitive technical specifications for their products.

The MIPI Alliance’s M-PHY specification provides a low-power and low cost PHY solution which is scalable and flexible enough to address existing and future mobile and consumer device markets. With its changeable gears, terminations, amplitudes and high-speed serial data rates, M-PHY presents a number of test challenges on both receiver and transmitter sides that require dedicated test solutions.

Tektronix’ M-PHYTX/M-PHYRX automated software, for use with Tektronix DPO/MSO70000 Series oscilloscopes, covers the full range of M-PHY transmitter and receiver test requirements and features extensive protocol decode support. On the transmitter side, test setup and execution is fully automated and requires only a single instrument. For M-PHY receiver testing a performance oscilloscope and AWG7000 Series arbitrary waveform generator are the only instruments required.